Brickwall Farmhouse Clophill

Brickwall Farmhouse July 2010

Brickwall Farmhouse was listed by English Heritage in January 1985 as Grade II, of special interest. They dated the building to the 18th century, noting that it had been reworked in the 19th century. The original block is constructed of red brick on a coursed ironstone plinth, later works are in mottled yellow brick. The house has slate roofs. The listing comments: "Included for group value". At the same time the range of farm buildings in the yard were also listed as Grade II. They form three sides of the rectangular yard, the farmhouse forming the fourth. They date to the mid 19th century and are built of red brick with yellow brick dressings, with slate roofs.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed as to its rateable value. Clophill was assessed in 1927. The valuer visiting Brickwall Farm [DV1/H51/24] noted that it was owned and occupied by John Maddams, though it had been part of the Wrest Park Estate.

The farm comprised 240 acres and the valuer made a number of comments: "Water pumped from well has to cart occasionally"; "Quality of land varies greatly - good and bad" and "Fixed rent here in ?1920, very difficult Farm". The farmhouse comprised two reception rooms, a kitchen, scullery, dairy, four bedrooms and two attics, "no bathroom". Another hand has annotated the notebook with a different layout - two reception rooms (one large), a scullery with a copper, a cellar, a kitchen, a larder, four bedrooms, a bedroom converted into a bathroom with cold water and a w. c. Domestic buildings lying outside comprised a coal house, a wood house, a trap house and a garage.

Directories reveal that John Maddams was still the farmer in 1931 but that by 1936 his executors held the building. He had been the farmer since at least 1898. In 1894 Alfred Squire had been the farmer (he died in 1896 [Z740/32/1]), with John Dann Squire the farmer from at least 1847 until at least 1869, Mrs. John Squire being listed in 1877.

In July 1941 John Maddams' executors put the farm up for sale by auction. The particulars [BML10/17/5] read as follows:

Brickwall Farm land in 1941 [BML10/17/5] to see a larger version, please click on the image

LOT 1

The Very Valuable and Attractive FreeholdRESIDENTIAL FARMKnown asBRICKWALL FARM

Situated in the Parish of Clophill, midway between Bedford and Luton, comprising a substantially built brick and slated